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  #1 (permalink)   Report Post  
Midlife
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

in article , R&M at
wrote on 7/21/04 8:49 PM:

> Going to Napa Sonoma for a week next month for the first time...wanted
> to know what are must do's for newbie...thanks in advance for all your
> help!
>
> R&M in San Diego


"Must do's" have a lot to do with your level of wine experience. If you are
newbies to visiting the area, but experienced with wine, your list will be
different, I would think. If you're new to wine, in general, start with an
area guide: The AAA has a pretty good guide book that's free to members;
otherwise, the best we've found is "Wine Country - California's Napa and
Sonoma Valleys", by John Doerper for Fodor's. The latest edition was written
in 2000, so some of the newer wineries won't be included, but the book is
otherwise very thorough and useful.

Assuming, again, that you're new to wine and wineries..... we've found the
best public tour to be at Robert Mondavi, in Oakville (Napa). I have to say,
though, that the best experiences we've had have been at the smaller
wineries, usually those that are by appointment only. There's something
very magical about meeting, touring and tasting with the people who actually
run the operation on a daily basis - something you don't generally get to do
at the larger wineries.

Our "must do" list would include: Napa - Mondavi, Sinskey, Caymus, Chateau
Montelena, Nickel & Nickel, Phelps, Shafer, Stony Hill, Schramsberg, Jarvis;
Sonoma - Gary Farrell, Davis Bynum, Ravenswood, Gundlach-Bundschu, Rochioli,
Arrowood, Jordan, Acorn, A. Rafanelli. I'm sure I'm leaving out some good
ones, and that other posters will add or subtract....... but this list is a
pretty good start.

Enjoy!

  #2 (permalink)   Report Post  
Midlife
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

in article , R&M at
wrote on 7/21/04 8:49 PM:

> Going to Napa Sonoma for a week next month for the first time...wanted
> to know what are must do's for newbie...thanks in advance for all your
> help!
>
> R&M in San Diego


"Must do's" have a lot to do with your level of wine experience. If you are
newbies to visiting the area, but experienced with wine, your list will be
different, I would think. If you're new to wine, in general, start with an
area guide: The AAA has a pretty good guide book that's free to members;
otherwise, the best we've found is "Wine Country - California's Napa and
Sonoma Valleys", by John Doerper for Fodor's. The latest edition was written
in 2000, so some of the newer wineries won't be included, but the book is
otherwise very thorough and useful.

Assuming, again, that you're new to wine and wineries..... we've found the
best public tour to be at Robert Mondavi, in Oakville (Napa). I have to say,
though, that the best experiences we've had have been at the smaller
wineries, usually those that are by appointment only. There's something
very magical about meeting, touring and tasting with the people who actually
run the operation on a daily basis - something you don't generally get to do
at the larger wineries.

Our "must do" list would include: Napa - Mondavi, Sinskey, Caymus, Chateau
Montelena, Nickel & Nickel, Phelps, Shafer, Stony Hill, Schramsberg, Jarvis;
Sonoma - Gary Farrell, Davis Bynum, Ravenswood, Gundlach-Bundschu, Rochioli,
Arrowood, Jordan, Acorn, A. Rafanelli. I'm sure I'm leaving out some good
ones, and that other posters will add or subtract....... but this list is a
pretty good start.

Enjoy!

  #3 (permalink)   Report Post  
Furious Shepherd
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

Second the recommendation for Gundlach-Bundschu.

"Midlife" > wrote in message
...
> in article , R&M at
>
wrote on 7/21/04 8:49 PM:
>
> > Going to Napa Sonoma for a week next month for the first time...wanted
> > to know what are must do's for newbie...thanks in advance for all your
> > help!
> >
> > R&M in San Diego

>
> "Must do's" have a lot to do with your level of wine experience. If you

are
> newbies to visiting the area, but experienced with wine, your list will be
> different, I would think. If you're new to wine, in general, start with

an
> area guide: The AAA has a pretty good guide book that's free to members;
> otherwise, the best we've found is "Wine Country - California's Napa and
> Sonoma Valleys", by John Doerper for Fodor's. The latest edition was

written
> in 2000, so some of the newer wineries won't be included, but the book is
> otherwise very thorough and useful.
>
> Assuming, again, that you're new to wine and wineries..... we've found the
> best public tour to be at Robert Mondavi, in Oakville (Napa). I have to

say,
> though, that the best experiences we've had have been at the smaller
> wineries, usually those that are by appointment only. There's something
> very magical about meeting, touring and tasting with the people who

actually
> run the operation on a daily basis - something you don't generally get to

do
> at the larger wineries.
>
> Our "must do" list would include: Napa - Mondavi, Sinskey, Caymus,

Chateau
> Montelena, Nickel & Nickel, Phelps, Shafer, Stony Hill, Schramsberg,

Jarvis;
> Sonoma - Gary Farrell, Davis Bynum, Ravenswood, Gundlach-Bundschu,

Rochioli,
> Arrowood, Jordan, Acorn, A. Rafanelli. I'm sure I'm leaving out some good
> ones, and that other posters will add or subtract....... but this list is

a
> pretty good start.
>
> Enjoy!
>



  #4 (permalink)   Report Post  
Furious Shepherd
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

Second the recommendation for Gundlach-Bundschu.

"Midlife" > wrote in message
...
> in article , R&M at
>
wrote on 7/21/04 8:49 PM:
>
> > Going to Napa Sonoma for a week next month for the first time...wanted
> > to know what are must do's for newbie...thanks in advance for all your
> > help!
> >
> > R&M in San Diego

>
> "Must do's" have a lot to do with your level of wine experience. If you

are
> newbies to visiting the area, but experienced with wine, your list will be
> different, I would think. If you're new to wine, in general, start with

an
> area guide: The AAA has a pretty good guide book that's free to members;
> otherwise, the best we've found is "Wine Country - California's Napa and
> Sonoma Valleys", by John Doerper for Fodor's. The latest edition was

written
> in 2000, so some of the newer wineries won't be included, but the book is
> otherwise very thorough and useful.
>
> Assuming, again, that you're new to wine and wineries..... we've found the
> best public tour to be at Robert Mondavi, in Oakville (Napa). I have to

say,
> though, that the best experiences we've had have been at the smaller
> wineries, usually those that are by appointment only. There's something
> very magical about meeting, touring and tasting with the people who

actually
> run the operation on a daily basis - something you don't generally get to

do
> at the larger wineries.
>
> Our "must do" list would include: Napa - Mondavi, Sinskey, Caymus,

Chateau
> Montelena, Nickel & Nickel, Phelps, Shafer, Stony Hill, Schramsberg,

Jarvis;
> Sonoma - Gary Farrell, Davis Bynum, Ravenswood, Gundlach-Bundschu,

Rochioli,
> Arrowood, Jordan, Acorn, A. Rafanelli. I'm sure I'm leaving out some good
> ones, and that other posters will add or subtract....... but this list is

a
> pretty good start.
>
> Enjoy!
>



  #5 (permalink)   Report Post  
D. Brown
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

I would add Cakebread in Napa. Skip Griggich - I like the wine, but
really disliked their folks doing the tastings. Too much like we were
intruding that day.

Furious Shepherd wrote:
> Second the recommendation for Gundlach-Bundschu.
>
> "Midlife" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>in article , R&M at
wrote on 7/21/04 8:49 PM:
>>
>>
>>>Going to Napa Sonoma for a week next month for the first time...wanted
>>>to know what are must do's for newbie...thanks in advance for all your
>>>help!
>>>
>>>R&M in San Diego

>>
>>"Must do's" have a lot to do with your level of wine experience. If you

>
> are
>
>>newbies to visiting the area, but experienced with wine, your list will be
>>different, I would think. If you're new to wine, in general, start with

>
> an
>
>>area guide: The AAA has a pretty good guide book that's free to members;
>>otherwise, the best we've found is "Wine Country - California's Napa and
>>Sonoma Valleys", by John Doerper for Fodor's. The latest edition was

>
> written
>
>>in 2000, so some of the newer wineries won't be included, but the book is
>>otherwise very thorough and useful.
>>
>>Assuming, again, that you're new to wine and wineries..... we've found the
>>best public tour to be at Robert Mondavi, in Oakville (Napa). I have to

>
> say,
>
>>though, that the best experiences we've had have been at the smaller
>>wineries, usually those that are by appointment only. There's something
>>very magical about meeting, touring and tasting with the people who

>
> actually
>
>>run the operation on a daily basis - something you don't generally get to

>
> do
>
>>at the larger wineries.
>>
>>Our "must do" list would include: Napa - Mondavi, Sinskey, Caymus,

>
> Chateau
>
>>Montelena, Nickel & Nickel, Phelps, Shafer, Stony Hill, Schramsberg,

>
> Jarvis;
>
>>Sonoma - Gary Farrell, Davis Bynum, Ravenswood, Gundlach-Bundschu,

>
> Rochioli,
>
>>Arrowood, Jordan, Acorn, A. Rafanelli. I'm sure I'm leaving out some good
>>ones, and that other posters will add or subtract....... but this list is

>
> a
>
>>pretty good start.
>>
>>Enjoy!
>>

>
>
>




  #6 (permalink)   Report Post  
D. Brown
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

I would add Cakebread in Napa. Skip Griggich - I like the wine, but
really disliked their folks doing the tastings. Too much like we were
intruding that day.

Furious Shepherd wrote:
> Second the recommendation for Gundlach-Bundschu.
>
> "Midlife" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>in article , R&M at
wrote on 7/21/04 8:49 PM:
>>
>>
>>>Going to Napa Sonoma for a week next month for the first time...wanted
>>>to know what are must do's for newbie...thanks in advance for all your
>>>help!
>>>
>>>R&M in San Diego

>>
>>"Must do's" have a lot to do with your level of wine experience. If you

>
> are
>
>>newbies to visiting the area, but experienced with wine, your list will be
>>different, I would think. If you're new to wine, in general, start with

>
> an
>
>>area guide: The AAA has a pretty good guide book that's free to members;
>>otherwise, the best we've found is "Wine Country - California's Napa and
>>Sonoma Valleys", by John Doerper for Fodor's. The latest edition was

>
> written
>
>>in 2000, so some of the newer wineries won't be included, but the book is
>>otherwise very thorough and useful.
>>
>>Assuming, again, that you're new to wine and wineries..... we've found the
>>best public tour to be at Robert Mondavi, in Oakville (Napa). I have to

>
> say,
>
>>though, that the best experiences we've had have been at the smaller
>>wineries, usually those that are by appointment only. There's something
>>very magical about meeting, touring and tasting with the people who

>
> actually
>
>>run the operation on a daily basis - something you don't generally get to

>
> do
>
>>at the larger wineries.
>>
>>Our "must do" list would include: Napa - Mondavi, Sinskey, Caymus,

>
> Chateau
>
>>Montelena, Nickel & Nickel, Phelps, Shafer, Stony Hill, Schramsberg,

>
> Jarvis;
>
>>Sonoma - Gary Farrell, Davis Bynum, Ravenswood, Gundlach-Bundschu,

>
> Rochioli,
>
>>Arrowood, Jordan, Acorn, A. Rafanelli. I'm sure I'm leaving out some good
>>ones, and that other posters will add or subtract....... but this list is

>
> a
>
>>pretty good start.
>>
>>Enjoy!
>>

>
>
>


  #7 (permalink)   Report Post  
bijoudog
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

Interesting comment about Grgich Hills. We had exactly the same unfriendly
experience. Very unusual.

Another good book on the area is "Access - California Wine Country". There
is a recent edition out. It is very well organized, and we've found the
guides to be accurate in many places we've visited. They have a knack for
finding little known restaurants.

In Sonoma, we found the people at Valley of the Moon to be very helpful and
friendly, and the wines are pretty good. We also really liked visiting
Chateau St. Jean.

If you enjoy sparkling wine, the tour at Domaine Chandon is educational.
Opus One is quite beautiful, and you have the opportunity to buy their
second label wine - Overture - which is (or was on our last visit) a very
good value.



Though our topic here is typically wine, "food" is in the title, so here are
a few more suggestions:

1. Assemble a nice picnic lunch at V. Sattui, Oakville Grocery, or Dean &
DeLuca, and take a drive to Joseph Phelps for nice views and a good area to
enjoy your meal. They have picinc tables. Better yet, make an appointment
ahead of time for a tour and tasting while you're there, too.

2. Absolutely visit Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. Great food, good
atmosphere, very friendly. The one place we always go whenever we visit the
area.

"D. Brown" > wrote in message
news:0oXLc.6437$eM2.3726@attbi_s51...
> I would add Cakebread in Napa. Skip Griggich - I like the wine, but
> really disliked their folks doing the tastings. Too much like we were
> intruding that day.
>
> Furious Shepherd wrote:
> > Second the recommendation for Gundlach-Bundschu.
> >
> > "Midlife" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >>in article , R&M at
> wrote on 7/21/04 8:49 PM:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Going to Napa Sonoma for a week next month for the first time...wanted
> >>>to know what are must do's for newbie...thanks in advance for all your
> >>>help!
> >>>
> >>>R&M in San Diego
> >>
> >>"Must do's" have a lot to do with your level of wine experience. If you

> >
> > are
> >
> >>newbies to visiting the area, but experienced with wine, your list will

be
> >>different, I would think. If you're new to wine, in general, start with

> >
> > an
> >
> >>area guide: The AAA has a pretty good guide book that's free to members;
> >>otherwise, the best we've found is "Wine Country - California's Napa and
> >>Sonoma Valleys", by John Doerper for Fodor's. The latest edition was

> >
> > written
> >
> >>in 2000, so some of the newer wineries won't be included, but the book

is
> >>otherwise very thorough and useful.
> >>
> >>Assuming, again, that you're new to wine and wineries..... we've found

the
> >>best public tour to be at Robert Mondavi, in Oakville (Napa). I have to

> >
> > say,
> >
> >>though, that the best experiences we've had have been at the smaller
> >>wineries, usually those that are by appointment only. There's something
> >>very magical about meeting, touring and tasting with the people who

> >
> > actually
> >
> >>run the operation on a daily basis - something you don't generally get

to
> >
> > do
> >
> >>at the larger wineries.
> >>
> >>Our "must do" list would include: Napa - Mondavi, Sinskey, Caymus,

> >
> > Chateau
> >
> >>Montelena, Nickel & Nickel, Phelps, Shafer, Stony Hill, Schramsberg,

> >
> > Jarvis;
> >
> >>Sonoma - Gary Farrell, Davis Bynum, Ravenswood, Gundlach-Bundschu,

> >
> > Rochioli,
> >
> >>Arrowood, Jordan, Acorn, A. Rafanelli. I'm sure I'm leaving out some

good
> >>ones, and that other posters will add or subtract....... but this list

is
> >
> > a
> >
> >>pretty good start.
> >>
> >>Enjoy!
> >>

> >
> >
> >

>



  #8 (permalink)   Report Post  
RV WRLee
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

>Interesting comment about Grgich Hills. We had exactly the same unfriendly
>experience. Very unusual.
>
>Another good book on the area is "Access - California Wine Country". There
>is a recent edition out. It is very well organized, and we've found the
>guides to be accurate in many places we've visited. They have a knack for
>finding little known restaurants.
>
>In Sonoma, we found the people at Valley of the Moon to be very helpful and
>friendly, and the wines are pretty good. We also really liked visiting
>Chateau St. Jean.
>
>If you enjoy sparkling wine, the tour at Domaine Chandon is educational.
>Opus One is quite beautiful, and you have the opportunity to buy their
>second label wine - Overture - which is (or was on our last visit) a very
>good value.
>
>
>
>Though our topic here is typically wine, "food" is in the title, so here are
>a few more suggestions:
>
>1. Assemble a nice picnic lunch at V. Sattui, Oakville Grocery, or Dean &
>DeLuca, and take a drive to Joseph Phelps for nice views and a good area to
>enjoy your meal. They have picinc tables. Better yet, make an appointment
>ahead of time for a tour and tasting while you're there, too.
>
>2. Absolutely visit Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. Great food, good
>atmosphere, very friendly. The one place we always go whenever we visit the
>area.
>
>"D. Brown"


I had the same experience at Grgich. I think Mike Grgich sets the tone there
and I'm not sure that he's the most "user friendly" winemaker in Napa.

I would also go agree with your suggestions for lunch and visiting Bistro
Jeanty. Tra Vigna is also a place to mingle with cellar rats and wine makers.
I owuld also suggest that Nickel and Nickel is a must especially if you're
visitng Mondavi (right across the road) or Opus One (right next door).
Bi!!
  #9 (permalink)   Report Post  
RV WRLee
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

>Interesting comment about Grgich Hills. We had exactly the same unfriendly
>experience. Very unusual.
>
>Another good book on the area is "Access - California Wine Country". There
>is a recent edition out. It is very well organized, and we've found the
>guides to be accurate in many places we've visited. They have a knack for
>finding little known restaurants.
>
>In Sonoma, we found the people at Valley of the Moon to be very helpful and
>friendly, and the wines are pretty good. We also really liked visiting
>Chateau St. Jean.
>
>If you enjoy sparkling wine, the tour at Domaine Chandon is educational.
>Opus One is quite beautiful, and you have the opportunity to buy their
>second label wine - Overture - which is (or was on our last visit) a very
>good value.
>
>
>
>Though our topic here is typically wine, "food" is in the title, so here are
>a few more suggestions:
>
>1. Assemble a nice picnic lunch at V. Sattui, Oakville Grocery, or Dean &
>DeLuca, and take a drive to Joseph Phelps for nice views and a good area to
>enjoy your meal. They have picinc tables. Better yet, make an appointment
>ahead of time for a tour and tasting while you're there, too.
>
>2. Absolutely visit Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. Great food, good
>atmosphere, very friendly. The one place we always go whenever we visit the
>area.
>
>"D. Brown"


I had the same experience at Grgich. I think Mike Grgich sets the tone there
and I'm not sure that he's the most "user friendly" winemaker in Napa.

I would also go agree with your suggestions for lunch and visiting Bistro
Jeanty. Tra Vigna is also a place to mingle with cellar rats and wine makers.
I owuld also suggest that Nickel and Nickel is a must especially if you're
visitng Mondavi (right across the road) or Opus One (right next door).
Bi!!
  #10 (permalink)   Report Post  
Richard Neidich
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

Off the wine tour subject there is a Jelly Belly factory tour about 20
minutes from Napa. The city is fairfield or fairmont...something like that.

After doing many a winery a few years back my wife and I did a Saki tour and
then the jelly belly jelly bean tour.

Jelly Belly tour was amazing! More complicated process than I ever thought.


"R&M" > wrote in message
om...
> Going to Napa Sonoma for a week next month for the first time...wanted
> to know what are must do's for newbie...thanks in advance for all your
> help!
>
> R&M in San Diego





  #11 (permalink)   Report Post  
lloyd
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

My favourite wine at the moment from Sonoma is Seghesio Zinfandel... I
met Camille Seghesio at a wine event last year and fell in love (with
the wine). They do increasingly good zins, depending on how much you
want to spend...

Lloyd
(scotland)
  #12 (permalink)   Report Post  
lloyd
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

My favourite wine at the moment from Sonoma is Seghesio Zinfandel... I
met Camille Seghesio at a wine event last year and fell in love (with
the wine). They do increasingly good zins, depending on how much you
want to spend...

Lloyd
(scotland)
  #13 (permalink)   Report Post  
Dana Myers
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

Richard Neidich wrote:
> Off the wine tour subject there is a Jelly Belly factory tour about 20
> minutes from Napa. The city is fairfield or fairmont...something like that.
>
> After doing many a winery a few years back my wife and I did a Saki tour and
> then the jelly belly jelly bean tour.


The sake tour is at Hakusan, where CA-12 meets CA-29.
The Jelly Belly factory is on CA-12 just east of I-80
in Fairfield. Very near Jelly Belly is a chocolate
factory and an olive oil factory. A short drive from
Jelly Belly takes you to a few local wineries -
Volkhardt, Ledgewood Creek and Wooden Valley Winery.
Sunset Magazine recently ran a feature on the Suisun
Valley wineries.

One year ago, there was a crop circle incident, too:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...10/BA23590.DTL

Cheers,
Dana
  #14 (permalink)   Report Post  
Mark Lipton
 
Posts: n/a
Default Napa Sonoma suggestions requested?

lloyd wrote:

> My favourite wine at the moment from Sonoma is Seghesio Zinfandel... I
> met Camille Seghesio at a wine event last year and fell in love (with
> the wine). They do increasingly good zins, depending on how much you
> want to spend...


I agree with you, lloyd. I recently sent some friends on a "Zin tour"
of Sonoma. The stops were Ravenswood, Ridge Lytton, Rosenblum, Seghesio
and Cline. They came back very impressed with Seghesio, though Ridge
was their favorite stop of the day.

Mark Lipton
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